Calibrachoa plant named ‘KLECA06122’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Calibrachoa  plant named ‘KLECA06122’, characterized by its compact and mounding growth habit; freely branching habit; freely flowering habit; white-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Calibrachoa sp.

Cultivar denomination: ‘KLECA06122’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofCalibrachoa, botanically known as Calibrachoa sp. and hereinafterreferred to by the name ‘KLECA06122’.

The new Calibrachoa is a product of a planned breeding program conductedby the Inventor in Stuttgart, Germany. The objective of the breedingprogram is to create new freely-branching Calibrachoa cultivars withcompact and trailing plant habit, early and freely flowering habit, andunique and attractive flower color.

The new Calibrachoa originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor during the summer of 2003 in Stuttgart, Germany of aproprietary selection of Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number V079, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietaryselection of Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number W 370, notpatented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Calibrachoa wasdiscovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plantwithin the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlledenvironment in Stuttgart, Germany in May, 2004.

Asexual reproduction of the new Calibrachoa by vegetative cuttings in acontrolled environment in Stuttgart, Germany since May, 2004, has shownthat the unique features of this new Calibrachoa are stable andreproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar KLECA06122 has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature andlight intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘KLECA06122’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘KLECA06122’ as a new and distinct cultivar ofCalibrachoa:

-   -   1. Compact and mounding growth habit.    -   2. Freely branching habit.    -   3. Freely flowering habit.    -   4. White-colored flowers.    -   5. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of the femaleparent selection. Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarily fromplants of the female parent selection in plant size as plants of thefemale parent selection are more compact than plants of the newCalibrachoa.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of the maleparent selection. Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarily fromplants of the male parent selection in plant habit as plants of the maleparent selection are more trailing than plants of the new Calibrachoa.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of the cultivarKLEC01058, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,185. In side-by-sidecomparisons conducted in Stuttgart, Germany, plants of the newCalibrachoa differed primarily from plants of the cultivar KLEC01058 ingrowth habit as plants of the cultivar KLEC01058 were more trailing thanand not as compact as plants of the new Calibrachoa. In addition, plantsof the new Calibrachoa had shorter internodes than plants of thecultivar KLEC01058.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof the new Calibrachoa, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Calibrachoa. The photograph comprises a close-up view of typicalflowers of ‘KLECA06122’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown in Stuttgart, Germany, under commercialpractice during the spring in a glass-covered greenhouse with day andnight temperatures ranging from 14° C. to 16° C. and light levelsaveraging 20,000 lux. Rooted young plants had been growing for about sixmonths when the photograph and description were taken. Plants used forthe description were grown in 12-cm containers and pinched one time oneweek after planting. In the following description, color references aremade to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition,except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Calibrachoa sp. cultivar KLECA06122.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of            Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number V 079, not            patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of            Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number W 370, not            patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three            weeks at temperatures of 20° C. to 26° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four            weeks at temperatures of 20° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; white in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; moderately dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Compact and mounding growth habit;            low vigor. Freely branching habit with about five primary            lateral branches each with multiple secondary lateral            branches; pinching is typically not required.        -   Plant height.—About 4 cm.        -   Plant diameter.—About 13 cm.-   Lateral branch description:    -   -   Length.—About 6 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 2 mm.        -   Internode length.—About 0.8 cm to 1.4 cm.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Aspect.—Mostly upright.        -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous.        -   Color.—145A.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, simple; sessile.        -   Length.—About 1 cm to 3 cm.        -   Width.—About 0.4 cm to 1.2 cm.        -   Shape.—Lanceolate to elliptical.        -   Apex.—Broadly acute.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.        -   Color.—Developing and fully expanded foliage, upper surface:            137A; venation, 144A. Developing and fully expanded foliage,            lower surface: 137C; venation, 144B.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower arrangement and habit.—Salverform flowers arranged            singly arising from leaf axils. Freely flowering habit with            usually about 26 open flowers and flower buds developing per            lateral branch. Flowers not persistent. Flowers face mostly            outwardly.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants flower continuously            throughout the summer in Germany. Plants begin flowering            about 13 weeks after planting.        -   Flowering longevity.—Individual flowers last about one week            on the plant.        -   Flower diameter.—About 2.5 cm.        -   Flower length (height).—About 2.5 cm.        -   Flower throat diameter.—About 7 mm.        -   Flower tube diameter, base.—About 2 mm.        -   Flower tube length.—About 1.5 cm.        -   Flower bud.—Shape: Elongated oblong. Length: About 2.2 cm.            Diameter: About 5 mm. Color: 2D.        -   Corolla.—Arrangement: Five petals fused at the base and            opening into a flared trumpet. Petal length from throat:            About 1.1 cm. Petal lobe width: About 1 cm. Petal shape:            Obverse. Petal apex: Obtuse. Petal margin: Entire. Petal            texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; satiny.            Throat and tube texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Petal,            when opening, upper and lower surfaces: 155D. Petal, fully            opened, upper surface: 157D; color becoming closer to 155A            with development; venation, 7C. Petal, fully opened, lower            surface: 155D; venation, 154B. Throat: 154A; venation, 7C.            Tube: 7B; venation, 7C.        -   Calyx.—Arrangement: One star-shaped calyx tube with five            sepals fused at the base per flower. Sepal length: About            1.3 cm. Sepal width: About 3 mm. Sepal shape: Lanceolate to            elliptical. Sepal apex: Acute. Sepal margin: Entire. Sepal            texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,            upper surface: 138A. Color, lower surface: 138B.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 1.5 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.            Angle: Erect to about 75° from stem axis. Strength:            Moderately strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: 144B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity/arrangement: Five per            flower. Anther shape: Elliptic. Anther length: About 1 mm.            Anther color: 11A. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color:            11A. Pistils: Quantity: One per flower. Pistil length: About            5 mm. Style length: About 2 mm. Style color: 150A. Stigma            shape: Oval. Stigma color: 149A. Ovary color: 154A.        -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit development have not been            observed on plants of the new Calibrachoa.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa have been observed    to have good garden performance and tolerate wind, rain and    temperatures ranging from about 1° C. to about 50° C.-   Pathogen/pest resistance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa have not    been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to    Calibrachoa.

1. A new and distinct Calibrachoa plant named ‘KLECA06122’ asillustrated and described.